Clarkson vs. Arcadia

Should I go to Clarkson University or Arcadia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Clarkson or Arcadia is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Clarkson University vs. Arcadia University comparison
Clarkson University Arcadia University College 3 College 4
Clarkson University Arcadia University
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Overview

Clarkson Arcadia
Location Potsdam, NY Glenside, PA
Setting Remote Town Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,719 3,026
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #220 #502
Religious Affiliation - Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website clarkson.edu arcadia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Clarkson Arcadia
Tuition (In State) $54,960 $46,430
Tuition (Out of State) $54,960 $46,430
Room & Board $16,744 $13,720
Avg Net Price $32,450 $29,692
Avg Grant Aid $41,285 $30,934
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Clarkson Arcadia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,594 6,321
Admitted 5,171 4,903
Acceptance Rate 78.4% 77.6%
Enrolled % 11.5% 10%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Difficult Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/30 24/29
SAT Range 1190/1370 1088/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Clarkson Arcadia
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Clarkson Arcadia
Graduation Rate 72% 62%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $70,800 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

Clarkson Arcadia
% Men 64% 32%
% Women 36% 68%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 84% 68%
% Black 2% 9%
% Hispanic 4% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 4%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Clarkson Arcadia
% In-State 65% 62%
% Out-of-State 31% 37%

Campus

Clarkson Arcadia
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Clarkson University is larger than than Arcadia based on total student enrollment (3,719 students vs. 3,026 students)

Clarkson vs. Arcadia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clarkson or Arcadia?

  • Clarkson University is 18.4% more expensive to attend than Arcadia for in-state tuition ($54,960.00 vs. $46,430.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 18.4% higher at Clarkson than Arcadia University ($54,960.00 vs. $46,430.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arcadia University than Clarkson ($29,692 vs. $32,450)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arcadia University are 22% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($13,720 vs. $16,744)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Clarkson University than Arcadia University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 33.5% larger than aid received Arcadia University ($41,285 vs. $30,934)

Clarkson vs. Arcadia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clarkson or Arcadia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Arcadia or Clarkson .

  • The average SAT score at Clarkson University (1198) is 94 points higher than at Arcadia (1104)
  • Incoming Clarkson students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Arcadia (25)
  • Accepted freshman Clarkson students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Arcadia (3.42)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Arcadia (77.6%)

Clarkson vs. Arcadia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Clarkson or Arcadia? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Arcadia and Clarkson.

  • The graduation rate at Clarkson is higher than Arcadia University (72% vs. 62%)
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $24,400 more per year than Arcadia graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $46,400)
  • Arcadia University and Clarkson graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Arcadia University and Clarkson graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Arcadia students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/